Holy Communion from the Tabernacle

Should Holy Communion be distributed from the tabernacle?

Concern is often raised about the continuing practice of communicating the assembly at Mass from the sacrament reserved in the tabernacle. Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, states: "That more perfect form of participation in the Mass whereby the faithful,
after the priest's communion, receive the Lord's body from the same sacrifice,
is strongly commended" (art. 55).

It is most desirable that the faithful, just as the Priest himself
is bound to do, receive the Lord’s Body from hosts consecrated at the
same Mass and that, in the cases where this is foreseen, they partake of
the chalice (cf. no. 283), so that even by means of the signs Communion
may stand out more clearly as a participation in the sacrifice actually
being celebrated. (no. 85)

The reason for which the Church reserves the Eucharist outside Mass is, primarily, the administration of Viaticum to the dying and, secondarily, Communion of the sick, Communion outside Mass, and adoration of Christ present in the sacrament (see Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass, no. 5). Only under rare circumstances of necessity should the assembly at Mass communicate from the reserved sacrament in the tabernacle.

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